Heyy! My name is Kristen Huey. I was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, where I
currently reside with my family. They are pretty great. Second to God, they mean everything to me. I most certainly wouldn’t be going on this trip and giving up everything for a year to follow Jesus if it weren’t for them–especially mom. It will be quite difficult to leave her and the rest of my family for 11 months, but I know that God is going to use this upcoming year for His glory and teach me so much along the way.
So yah, as I was saying-my family is pretty great. My brother Justin is a touring musician with a band called “Steel Train“. [and yes, he toured with Nickelodeon’s “YoGabbaGabba”. Be jealous 3-5 year olds!] Needless to say, they are pretty famous. I’ve always wanted to be a musician, but it seems that Justin got all those genes. I played the flute, piano and drums for a season, but nothing really stuck. My dad just finished his second book. The series is called “Perpetual”. Who knows, maybe it will be a movie someday? I’m sure its only a matter of time. And my mom, well, she is a pretty fantastic woman, role model and the most selfless person I have ever met. If I could end up half the woman she is, I would be completely satisfied with that. She is pretty much my best friend. I can’t even imagine leaving her for 11 months! I’m pretty sure the longest I’ve ever been away from home is like… 2 months max. The rest of my immediate family is four-legged and hairy, but every bit as important!
In August 2009 I graduated from Clemson University with a degree
in Animal and Veterinary sciences. I had wanted to be a veterinarian since I was three years old. I was the girl who caught bugs and rescued injured critters. Once I had 3 baby opossums living in my bathtub. yahh… I was the girl (and still am) that everyone calls when they have an animal rescue or injury. In College, I rescued all three of my cats. They are my babies. I don’t care what anyone says, cats are great. On the left is Jackson. I rescued him from the apartment complex in the summertime. In the center is Riley-she was my first. She was rescued at another apartment complex after some girl left a group of kittens in the street because she didn’t want to take care of them-nothing makes me more angry than people like that. And on the left is Peyton, my baby. I rescued him from the veterinary clinic I was working at. He was a stray and was about to be put down, so I took him in. My mom is the greatest because she is taking care of my angels while I am gone for the next year. I would just die if I had to give them up! So I definitely owe her!
Until last year- I was planning on going to veterinary school at NC State. As I mentioned before, I had wanted to be a veterinarian as far back as I can remember. After rededicating my life to Christ in 2008, I began to feel differently about my calling. Over the next year, God began to break my heart for other things. In the summer of 2009, I led a group of students to a youth conference in Daytona Beach, Florida. It was there that God laid out a different plan for my life. He broke my heart for the lost, the desolate, the hungry, and the poor. He opened my eyes to a world I knew nothing about, but longed to know. I couldn’t stand the idea of people dying simply at a result of having unclean water! I started thinking of all the ways we waste water in the U.S…watering our lawns, take 30 minute showers, leaving the faucet running while brushing our teeth, flushing the toilet (1+gal/flush!). The list goes on. I was overwhelmed with the desire to DO something about it, yet had no idea what to do. On the very last night of worship, the Lord impressed a calling on my heart to work in overseas missions. So when I got home from this conference, I made a decision to cease the application process to vet schools, and pursue the calling I felt I received. Needless to say, my family wasn’t too pleased-but who could blame them? I had worked my whole life to prepare for vet school, and I was going to throw it all away because of “an impression” I received, but wasn’t even sure it was God? I knew I had two choices: a) follow Jesus, or b) follow my plans. I chose A. You can read more in depth about my story here: Blog-My Story.
In March 2010 I attended my first missions trip to Guatemala
with Living Water International. We were able to provide the community of
Maria Del Mar II with their first source of clean drinking water EVER and
supply them with their own brand new bibles in their language! How
incredible is it to be a part of that?? It was there, that I felt adamant about
the calling I had received in July. I fell in love with people I had just
met–not just “love”, but a deep, genuine Christ-like love for the
people in the community. It was the first time my heart ached for people
I didn’t even really know. I mean, we didn’t even speak the same
language! The face of the girl on the right is permanently engrained in my mind. She didn’t say much, and to be honest, I can’t even remember her name. But something about her struck me and I haven’t been able to shake her. She had a profound impact on my life.
One of my favorite things to do is to help and lead others in
their walk with Christ. Right now, I am the leader of two groups at
Elevation Church here in Charlotte. I lead a Women’s 20s Group on Tuesday
nights and a High School Women’s Group on Wednesday nights. I definitely feel that God has given me a
special gift to work with Youth. Maybe its because I’m just a big kid at
heart? 🙂 God really stepped up by providing a fantastic woman of God to take my place as the leader of my HS girls. Second to my family, I will miss these girls the most. They are incredible young women and have impacted my life in a profound way. They have all become like sisters and it pains me to leave them for an entire year, but I know God has a plan–both for me and for all of them as well.
When I’m not doing that, I’m working at Caribou Coffee as a
barista. I absolutely love my job. I get to talk to all sorts of
characters and develop relationships with people I never would have met
otherwise, and have I mentioned that I LOVE coffee?? I suppose I
could have worse habits right? Over the past 11 months, I have really grown to enjoy my job and the people I work with. I hate to leave them behind, but I know that I have all of their support and prayers.
Random Facts about Me
-My absolute favorite things possibly in this order: God, Family, coffee, The Carolina Panthers, Indy music, cats, kangaroos, playing in the rain, climbing trees, playing pool
-I am a terrible dancer, but it doesn’t stop me.
-I’m 50% Italian, and 50% other stuff. Its my goal to marry an Italian man so I can increase the bloodline. joking? ehhh maybee…
-Sometimes I randomly breakout in song. Most of the time, its disney related.
-I desperately want to be an avid reader, but I’m too ADHD. I have a collection of unread books to prove it.
-I love the smell of gasoline, coffee and freshly baked donuts (preferably not together)
-I can’t sit or stand still for longer than like… ten minutes. So I will fidget to compensate.
-I bite my nails. I’ve tried numerous times to quit, but fail miserably every time. However, I will finish the Race victorious!
-I am terrified of swings when they start to wobble. It seriously freaks me out.
-I can honestly say I have never thought of, or planned a single detail of my wedding day.
-I rather watch football than the lifetime network
How I Was Called To the World Race:
In April, I received a call from Connie Rock with AIM to lead an Ambassador trip to Scotland this summer. Until this time, I had only briefly been introduced to the idea of the world race. I attended the leadership training weekend in April and heard many stories from people who had been on the race. It was quite intriguing, but I still never seriously thought I would ever do it myself! I got back from the leadership training that Sunday. I did a little research about the World Race and stuff… but nothing serious. That Wednesday, I received a call from Rusty, a staff member with the World Race. (this is exactly how it happened- NO embellishments!) Here is how the conversation went:
Rusty: Hey Kristen, I know that you are interested in the World Race and I just wanted to see if you had any questions or anything for us.
Me: Well, Yeah, I am kinda interested in the WR, but, if you don’t mind me asking, how did you know that I was interested in the WR?
Rusty: Well, because you contacted us on our website and asked for more information.
Me: No, I didn’t do that….
Rusty: Could someone else have done it for you? Maybe your family or a close friend?
Me: No… No one knows that I am interested… Its only been a few days since I have even been thinking about it.
Rusty: Well, I don’t know you, so someone had to of sent your information in for me to have your contact info… Let me check and see where your information came from [looks up the document my name and info was in] …Well, thats weird…. Your name isn’t there anymore.
NEED I SAY MORE?
So, Here I am! 🙂
